COMMITTED TO ALABAMA
By 2030, Germany-based automotive giant Mercedes-Benz plans to invest billions into the Alabama site that marked the launch of the company’s U.S. manufacturing operations back in 1993. Located in Tuscaloosa County, the Mercedes-Benz U.S. International manufacturing plant will receive a $4 billion expansion investment. At the time of the project announcement last week, company officials held a ceremony at the Vance facility to celebrate reaching a production milestone of 5 million vehicles. “These vehicles don’t just carry the Mercedes star. They carry the passion, precision and pride of an entire region,” said Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Kaellenius. “This state and the spirit of its people have always been an inspiration to us.” On average, the facility exports about 60% of its annual output, producing a range of models including the GLE, GLS and GLE Coupe SUV. The plant also produces a number of all-electric vehicles and will make room for the company’s GLC SUV models within the next few years.
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NEBIUS BOOSTS GLOBAL CAPACITY
AI cloud company Nebius finished the expansion of its now 75-megawatt (MW) Mäntsälä data center in Finland earlier this year and has now returned with a fresh AI factory on the books. The company is planning to deliver one of Europe’s largest dedicated AI factories in the country’s southeastern city of Lappeenranta. The factory’s operations will be spread across multiple buildings at the 100-acre site, carrying an anticipated 310-MW capacity once complete. “We have been building in Finland for many years and are pleased to be expanding our presence here,” said Nebius Founder and CEO Arkady Volozh. “Lappeenranta represents a significant addition to our global AI infrastructure build-out and will make a significant contribution to achieving our capacity goals.” The addition of this AI factory builds on Nebius’ facility investment in Lille, France, which will bring 240 MW of capacity once deployed. The official press release noted that first capacity from the Lappeenranta factory is expected to become available in 2027.
AN ENERGIZED EXPANSION
In order to meet rising demand for Chobani’s popular La Colombe coffee brand, the company has announced a new $567 million facility expansion in Norton Shores, Michigan. The multi-phase project will introduce an additional 200,000 sq. ft. of production space. The company has said that this manufacturing boost will see Chobani’s current usage of 30 million pounds of milk annually scale to 615 million pounds per year over the next few years. Since the company sources its milk supply from local Michigan farmers this investment creates new opportunities in the region, in addition to 340 anticipated new roles at the plant. “La Colombe has been making ready-to-drink lattes in Norton Shores for more than a decade, and from day one this community has welcomed us with open arms,” said Chobani Founder and CEO Hamdi Ulukaya. “There’s something special here — in the hardworking spirit of the people, in the pride of Michigan’s farmers who produce high quality, delicious, farm-fresh milk, in the way neighbors show up for one another. That kind of richness is rare and reminds us what makes Michigan so special.”
Reports compiled and written by Alexis Elmore
